Round 11 and Round 12 of the 2012-2013 NGK Racing Series, takes place this Friday (8 March) at Dubai Autodrome as part of the Total UAE National Race Day.
Costas Papantonis, driving the Gulf Petrochem SEAT, will again be the man to beat for overall honours and in Class 1 of the Touring Car Class in the NGK Racing Series. He has been unchallenged for most of the season, and once again he should be able to fend off all comers on the day. Behind him in, Class 2 is where we can expect all the action, as Honda take on Renault while at the same time the ‘race within a race’ Clio Cup is again expected to deliver racing of the highest order. Honda have traditionally held the upper hand in the UAE Touring Car Class 2, but the Renault Clio pack have been closing in and last time outdid the Japanese manufactured cars.
Top of the championship points table is Gulf Petrochem backed Renault Clio driver Alexandros Annivas with 158 points, followed by fellow Renault Clio driver Ramzi Moutran, in the Duel Racing backed car, a mere two points behind. The duo also head up the Clio Cup standings and are again most likely to set the pace.
Honda driver Jonathan Mullan lies third in the standings with 148 points, and Rupesh Channake fourth with 120 points in the Lap57 Honda. Channake started the season with six wins out of six races, but since then four non-finishes have dealt his championship ambitions a huge blow.
This time around it may well be a different story as reports indicate Channake is back and targeting the top step of the podium once again. Along with Mullan, newcomer Mohammed Al Hammadi will also be flying the Honda flag.
Others to watch in the Renault Clio pack include impressive newcomer Guillaume Simonnet, Willie Morrison, Leon Johnson, Thomas Sorensen and Konstantinos Annivas in the third Gulf Petrochem backed car who knows his way around the Dubai Autodrome, and particularly the route to the podium. GT fans will be pleased to know that Rafael Unzurrunzaga is entered to race his Mosler GT600.
The scene is set for what should be yet another action packed afternoon of tin top racing, with door handle to door handle racing guaranteed and the no small issue of the NGK Racing Series title race entering a crucial phase.
On Friday qualifying for the NGK Racing Series starts at 9.00 am, followed by two 12 lap races on the International Circuit configuration, scheduled to be flagged off at 11.05 am and at 14.30 pm respectively.
Entry for spectators on race day is free, with food and refreshments available throughout the day at the Pit Stop lounge. Additional seating has been made available for race fans in the popular ‘Bowl’ viewing area of the circuit.
